Mindfulness Reduces Adolescent Depression Through Stress Appraisal and Cognitive Reactivity: Evidence from a Four-Wave Longitudinal Study.
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) June 26, 2025 Filipa Ćavar Mišković, Goran Milas 4 citations
Trait mindfulness is strongly linked to lower depressive symptoms in adolescents, acting through both direct and indirect pathways. Analyzing longitudinal data from 3,897 adolescents across four waves, mindfulness showed a strong negative correlation with depression (r = -0.39 to -0.56). The direct effect on reducing depression was substantial (β = -0.60 to -0.74), while indirect effects via cognitive reappraisal were smaller (β = -0.10 to -0.26 for stress reduction; up to -0.17 for depression). These indirect effects varied modestly across different types of stressful life events. The findings suggest mindfulness protects against adolescent depression primarily through direct cognitive-emotional processes, with additional benefit from more adaptive stress appraisal.